Whopper steelhead are among usual late summer catches when your lure and feeding time for the fish are in-sync, as they were for Rick Updegrove the last week of August. Forrest Fisher Photo

With water levels slowly returning to normal, late summer on Lake Ontario means fishing fun at nearly every port of angler access, from shore and boat.

The end of August is the start of peak fishing for King Salmon, but steelhead, lake trout and other cold water species also add to the reel-sizzling, fish-catching fun.

Fishing out of Wilson Harbor with Charter Captain Bob Cinelli aboard his aptly named “White Mule,” a 36-foot Tiara – ask him how that name came to be, was a simple day of fishing pleasure. The boat is big, bold and beautiful. Rest room below decks, sleeping compartments…nice.

The fishing rigs aboard “White Mule” are brand new models of time-tested rods, reels, lines and lures. Cinelli only uses the best and he should know after more than 30 years of fishing experience on the “Big-O.” Daiwa 4011 hi-speed reels, Heartland rods, Big Jon downriggers, 20-pound test Ande monofilament lines on the downriggers - tipped with Seaguar fluorocarbon leaders, copper line for use with the giant “Otter” planer boards, and the sharpest hooks on his select set of favored spoons.

Fishing with friends Mike Norris, Rick Updegrove and John Syracuse, we all took turns landing King salmon and steelhead. Our trip started early at sunrise and we were back to port at noon or so, with plenty of fillets for the smoker.

The big question for many anglers is how to fish and with what. What color? What spoon? How Deep? Charter captains often have ALL THOSE ANSWERS. Forrest Fisher Photo

North winds over the previous few days had started a small turnover offshore, but that did not hold up the fishing action with Captain Bob, as he revised the fishing program to find the winning combination to find King Salmon and steelhead.

We started out running lines at 30, 40 and 50 feet down using downriggers with 8-foot sliders, diving planes off copper out 100 feet, all with some variation of green-colored spoons in 125 feet of water. To find the hot fish, we slowly trolled out to 300 feet and then back shallower, looking for active fish on the feed. Back and forth Captain Bob moved us around, then we found active steelhead off the planer boards and riggers.

Just like fishing for marlin in the ocean, steelhead in Lake Ontario fly out of the water. Up, up and away. The fish not only soar above the water, they swim fast to the left, to the right, and then right at you. When that happens, you need to test your shoulder and arms for durability, and turn the reel handle very fast.

I had a nice steelhead on, it was my turn when the port side Otter board with the copper line jerked free with a jolting, rod-throbbing pulse as it exited the line release. We all thought it was a King as John hollered, “Forrest, you’re up!” I vaulted from my seat to take the rod from first mate, Nick, and moved to the padded rear railing on the boat. A very safe and adequate spot to lean on as the fish was battled back to the boat.

“How much line is out Nick?” I asked. “About 400 feet, just keep reeling, you’re doing just fine.” Rick joined in the verbal fun, “Feel that burn Forrest?!” How did he know? Indeed, my shoulders were on fire. How could this be? I was being worn out by a less-than-monster fish. Mike shared, “Hang on to him, it looks like the biggest one so far.” Easy for him to say. Then John added, “If you’re tired, I can take the rod.” I didn’t say anything, but was thinking, “No way John,”…I’m not sure I even heard that.

Maybe I was just hearing voices in my subconscious state of fish-fighting mindset?

Nope, on the other hand, these are what fishing friends are for. Heckling. Bantering. Funning. A few minutes later, my arms really were actually getting numb – 400 feet of copper is a LONG WAY, but we landed the fish just fine. I turned to grin at “my friends” not saying a word about my frozen arm joints. It was 65 degrees out and I was forming sweat on my brow.

Love this fishing!

John added, “Imagine how that guy felt yesterday that caught that 51-inch King, 39 pounds - 3 ounces, to take the lead in the LOC Derby?” He was not making me feel any better. “Honestly,” I returned, “I cannot imagine that. I think you might need to share the rod with your friends in that case.” John grinned and said, “Hey, that’s what fishing friends are for.”

Over the course of the morning trip, we had 12 releases and this was a “SLOW DAY” according to Captain Bob. My sore shoulders did not agree. I gotta start working out harder. We caught lots of “shakers,” the term for young-of-the-year King Salmon that weigh 2-3 pounds. The future fishery. All were released unharmed.

This fishing trip was fun. Maybe the best part of such a trip is that when four guys head out to fish this way in total comfort with the latest gear, hottest lures, a captain that can navigate and a first mate that coaches you along the way, and it’s affordable.

“Leave the dock at sunrise and back by about 12-12:30 with four guys,” Captain Bob said, “Our usual pricing is not expensive at $150 apiece. $25 more each and you can fish the whole day.” Unreal. Affordable fun. We all chipped in to tip the first mate.

A lot of us spend that much on just one good fishing reel (I do).

My new view, I’m getting older - save time, save money, fish with a charter. Not only do you get to fish with the best gear and fish with friends, you go the hottest fishing places at the best times and someone else cleans your catch! Then you just head home for the freezer with all of your healthy dinner meals for the next few months.

Need the right sensor gear to catch fish? Sonar, radar, surface water temp, water temp at the ball, boat speed, and a radiotelephone to phone home are all part of the half-day fish trip. Forrest Fisher Photo

If you’re looking to do this, you can contact Captain Bob Cinelli Sportfishing directly by calling 716-860-5774. You might also learn a lot about the lake, the fishery, the forage, the predator fish, invasive species, why the fish are able to be caught on certain lures and bait, the Lake Ontario water level, issues and more.

Captain Cinelli is the chairman of the Niagara County Fishery Advisory Board. He has the inside line on what’s happening on Lake Ontario and the Lower Niagara River. And with the hottest fishing.